Jake’s Got the Bellyache comes to us from West Virginia fiddler, Edden Hammons. I’ve been waiting for “Jake” to pop up as TOTW, but since it hasn’t, I volunteered to make this my first submission. I learned this tune a few years ago from a fiddler friend and have been “possessed” by it ever since. The B part, in particular, seems to have a hypnotic quality. Edden Hammons tunes are commonly played at jams in and around my area in Colorado, but Jake seems to be unknown. So, I usually just play it at home for my own enjoyment.
Not much is known about the legacy of this tune beyond attribution to EddenHammons. At least my internet searching hasn’t yielded much other than that it is related to Kate’s Got the Bellyache in Kentucky from eastern Kentucky. Maybe the BHO collective mind can help.
The EddenHammon’s rendition is notated in the Milliner-Koken collection of American Fiddle Tunes.
Here is what the Traditional Tune Archive (TTA) has to say about Jake (http://tunearch.org/wiki/Annotation:Jake%27s_Got_a_Bellyache):
“JAKE'S GOT THE BELLYACHE. Old-Time, Breakdown. A Mixolydian. ADae tuning (fiddle). AAB. This moderate tempo modal breakdown was in the repertoire of West Virginia fiddler Edden Hammons [1]. A version (with a slightly different rhythm and a more pronounced modal character) called "Kate's Got the Bellyache" has been collected in southeastern Kentucky from the playing of Estill Bingham. Also played in 'G'.”
There are two quirks in Jake. The standard run through is AAB, rather than AABB. Also, the B part consists of 12 measures, rather than the usual 8 measures.
So, let’s get on to known recordings. First, here is a recording of Edden Hammons from the Slippery-Hill website:
http://slippery-hill.com/M-K/ADAE/AMODAL/JakesBellyache.mp3
Claire Milliner and Walt Koken play at bit more of an up-tempo Jake in this YouTube video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaKn3-4WyFo
Contemporary recordings released commercially include:
-The Haints Old Time String Band, Shout Monah CD
-Rafe Stefanini, Hell and Scissors CD
-Terry Dignon and Lisa Alcott, Jake’s Got the Bellyache CD
To my knowledge, there are no commercially recorded banjo solo/lead renditions. Lee Sproull of Birmingham, Alabama recorded himself playing Jake on a Dobson that he recently built. Thanks Lee, for sharing this!
Lastly, here is my most recent take. Originally, I played Jake in open/standard A (aEAC#E), but I have since switched over to sawmill tuning (aEADE) and like playing it there much better. My rendition is fairly melodic and based on the transcription in the Milliner-Koken collection. I have to credit Adam Hurt for showing me the use of the Galax Lick at the end of the second phrase in the A part.
So, if anyone knows more about the legacy of Jake’s Got the Bellyache, let’s hear it. Of course, add your rendition here too.
Thanks for tuning in.